The Billionaire Princess

Outside the window, the runway rapidly approached as the family jet touched down. No matter how many times Sara Sherbrooke traveled by plane, it never ceased to amaze her how something so large could take off and land with such ease. As the plane rolled to a stop, she released her death grip on the armrests and checked her cell phone for any text messages before tossing it into her over-sized shoulder bag.

“Do you require any assistance, Ms. Sherbrooke?” Michelle, the private flight attendant for the jet, asked approaching her seat.

Sara moved toward the exit and freedom. “I’m fine, Michelle. I’ll let you and Peter know when I’m ready to fly back to Washington. When you’re both done here, go ahead and check into your hotel and enjoy yourselves.”

Without waiting for an answer Sara walked down the stairs and out into the warm Hawaiian sun. As always it was a gorgeous day. It didn’t seem like Hawaii ever had any other kind. At least every time she’d been here the weather was perfect, and today seemed to be no different.

A few feet away, Sara spotted the limo her brother Jake arranged and started toward it, her curiosity running rampant since yesterday when she’d received Jake’s call insisting she come to Hawaii immediately with no explanation. She’d told him she had responsibilities and couldn’t just up and leave D.C. without a good reason. In response, Jake told her to reschedule her meetings and then promised to have someone waiting for her at the airport.

“Once you’re seated, I’ll put your luggage in the trunk; we can leave once Mr. Hall arrives,” the driver said, opening the car door for Sara.

At the mention of Jake’s best friend and former college roommate, Sara’s curiosity went into overdrive. Just what was her brother up to anyway?

Climbing into the car, Sara made herself comfortable and waited. The temptation to call Jake lurked in the back of her mind, but knowing her big brother the way she did, it’d be pointless. When Jake was ready, he’d tell her what was going on, and not a minute sooner. In the meantime, she’d kill some time with e-mails. She pulled out her tablet and got to work.

Sara sat sipping a bottle of sparkling water, when the door opened again. Silently, she watched as Christopher Hall climbed in. If she hadn’t seen him countless times on the web, she never would’ve recognized the man who climbed in the limo as her brother’s Cal Tech roommate. She recalled meeting the tall, skinny kid with shaggy light brown hair and glasses when her family moved Jake into his dorm freshman year. On the few occasions she’d seen him back then, he’d been dressed in jeans, Converse sneakers and T-shirts with hard-rock bands emblazoned on them. The man seated across from her now seemed to be someone else entirely.

Today his light brown hair was cut fashionably short and there was no sign of the glasses he used to wear. Those were not the only changes she noticed. There was no missing the way his broad shoulders filled out his dress shirt.

For a second, Sara sat speechless and stared at the man, as her pulse kicked up a few notches. Before he noticed her staring, Sara regrouped and pasted on her best society smile. “Hi Christopher. Did Jake tell you what is going on?”

Christopher shook his head. “No. He just said to get out here, but I have a guess.”

Sara expected him to continue and let her in on his suspicions. Instead, he grabbed a soda water for himself and popped it open.

“So, what’s your guess?” she asked when several minutes passed and he didn’t say anything else.

Christopher paused with the bottle halfway to his mouth. “My money is on a wedding, but it’s just a guess.”

“A wedding? No. Charlie and Jake aren’t getting married today. Mom and Dad would be furious.”

“Like I said, it’s just a guess, but I know Jake. An out-of-the-blue wedding wouldn’t surprise me at all.”

Would her brother do that to their parents? Sure, a sudden, unexpected wedding might be something Jake would talk about, but not something he’d ever go through with. Jake Sherbrooke and Charlotte O’Brien’s wedding would be a huge affair, much like Dylan and Callie’s the year before. Considering the size of the Sherbrooke family and the fact the American public seemed so fascinated by them, how could it be anything less?

But if not a wedding like Christopher predicted, what other reason could Jake have for asking Christopher and her to Hawaii on such short notice? Other than an impromptu wedding like Christopher suggested, nothing else made any sense.

“Have you met Charlie?” Sara asked in an attempt to start a conversation. Over the years, they’d had few conversations, so Sara figured she could either ask him about his company or the one thing they had in common, her brother.

Christopher returned his water to the holder near the door, and Sara’s eyes watched the way the muscles in his upper arm flexed and moved. The sight sent her hand toward the air vent, which she redirected toward her face.

“I met her last year at Jake’s office, and we’ve all gotten together several times since. I like her. She seems perfect for him.”

“I think so too.” Sara reached for her water again. “She’s definitely the right woman for my brother.” She took a sip from the bottle and then asked him about his company.

About twenty minutes after leaving the airport, the limo arrived at The Sherbrooke Resort and Spa, one of Sherbrooke Enterprise’s finest hotels in Maui. Upon entering the resort, Christopher and Sara crossed the lobby to the private elevator behind the hotel concierge’s desk and in silence they rode the elevator up to the penthouse apartment, which occupied the entire 21st floor. When the doors opened, they walked directly into a well-appointed living room.

“Good, you two are here. Everyone else is out on the balcony.” Jake crossed the room toward them. Nothing in his expression or clothing gave away any clues.

Sara dropped her shoulder bag onto a nearby table and embraced her older brother. “Care to finally tell us what’s going on?” Before letting go, she dropped a kiss on Jake’s cheek.

With a devilish smile, Jake moved toward Christopher and slapped him on the back. “Why don’t you both come outside and join everyone. Then I’ll tell you what’s up.”

“Who else is here?” Sara fell into step alongside Jake and Christopher.

“Charlie, of course, Maureen, Callie and Dylan.” He didn’t wait for a response before stepping onto the balcony that ran the entire length of the building and overlooked the beach.

Immediately, Christopher’s remark in the car about a wedding came to mind. His guess must be right. What other reason could they have for inviting Charlie’s mom?

While Jake walked over to his fiancée, Sara took a seat near Dylan and Callie. They sat on an extra-wide padded lounge chair. Dylan’s arm rested across Callie’s shoulders, and their hands were clasped together. Sara fought hard to suppress an eye roll in their direction. Since meeting Callie, her no-nonsense, workaholic half brother had become quite the romantic.

“So are you going to tell us what’s up or should we guess?” Christopher asked the very question on her mind.

“Charlie and I are getting married tonight.”

“You’d better be joking or Mom’s going to kill you!” Sara looked from Charlie to Jake, waiting for one of them to answer her.

“I’m not joking. Dylan and Callie helped us arrange everything. We’re getting married tonight at five o’clock.” Jake looked and sounded dead serious.

Even though her brother and his fiancée had been engaged since New Year’s Eve, they hadn’t set a wedding date or, to her knowledge, even started to make formal plans. She’d thought it was because they were in no rush. Looked like she’d been wrong.

“What about Mom and Dad?” Sara glanced around at the other people present. No one but Maureen seemed the least bit surprised by Jake’s announcement.

“They don’t know. And we want to keep it that way,” Jake answered.

“Have you lost your mind?” Sara stood and moved closer to Jake. “You cannot get married without them here, Jake. Mom will never forgive you.” She knew her brother liked to do things his own way, but she never thought he’d go this far.

In response, Jake gave a slight shrug. “It’s not about them. We don’t want a huge affair like Callie and Dylan. That’s not us.”

Sara couldn’t argue with him on that point. She couldn’t picture Jake and Charlie having such an elaborate and formal wedding. However, she could see them having something grander than this. And not to have their parents there felt wrong, especially since Charlie’s mom was there.

“If Mom knew about this, she’d insist on making it a big event. Then the media would descend. We don’t want that. She’ll be angry, but eventually she’ll get over it.”

The way she saw it, saying their parents would be upset was the understatement of the century. At the same time though, she didn’t disagree with her brother. Mom would insist on turning the wedding into a grand event for the whole world to see.

“I still think you’re crazy, Jake.” Sara looked over at Callie and Dylan who’d remained silent so far. “And why didn’t you tell me about this, Dylan, if you both knew.” It hurt to think Jake trusted them with the secret but not her.

“Need to know. He needed me to help arrange things. Otherwise he wouldn’t have told us either,” Dylan answered. “We didn’t say anything because we figured the less people that knew, the less likely someone would slip and say something to Mum or Warren. And it’s not like it’s been planned for long. We finalized things about three weeks ago.”

Dylan’s answer made her feel a little better, but not much. She knew how to keep a secret. Jake and Charlie’s plans would’ve been just as safe with her as Dylan.

“When do you plan to tell Mom and Dad? I’ll make plans to be out of the country when you do.”

Jake laughed. “I’ll warn you before I do. But since they are leaving the country tomorrow, it’ll be a while.”

Christopher watched the exchange between his best friend and the other guests. Jake’s announcement hadn’t surprised him in the least. Actually, he’d expected something like this since Jake first told him about his engagement. An impromptu wedding near the beach fit the couple in question perfectly. Judging by their expressions, Charlie’s mom and Jake’s sister hadn’t expected anything like this.

As Sara and Jake discussed their parents, Christopher tuned out the words and watched the emotions on Sara’s face, unable to tear his eyes from her. No one could deny that she was an amazingly beautiful woman.

He’d thought the same thing the first time he’d met her his freshman year at Cal Tech. She’d accompanied her parents when Jake moved in, and when she walked into their dorm room, he thought he was seeing a living goddess. Even at sixteen, she’d taken his breath away. Not that she noticed him though. At eighteen, he’d been tall and lanky, and his personal grooming had ranked low on his priority list. Thanks to the gym and Jake’s help, his appearance had drastically changed in the years since they first met. Today no one would recognize him as the geek from Wisconsin, and not just because of the changes to his outward appearance.

Sara had changed as well. She’d gone from a beautiful sixteen-year-old to a gorgeous woman. Unfortunately, she was his best friend’s sister and completely off limits to him. Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t admire her from afar. He suspected few men could be in her presence without drooling all over themselves.

“I doubt this surprises you.”

Jake’s voice broke into Christopher’s thoughts, and he found himself grateful that his dark sunglasses concealed his eyes. “Not at all. I just thought you’d do it sooner. I told Sara on the ride here I thought we were going to a wedding.”

“And she disagreed. What was her theory?” Jake asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

“She didn’t have one, or if she did, she kept it to herself.” Christopher let his eyes travel back to Sara again, thankful he wore dark sunglasses. “But this suits the two of you.”

“Thanks for coming.” Jake slapped him on the back. “It means a lot to me.”

“Hey, I figured if my guess was right, I couldn’t miss seeing Prince Charming himself get married,” Christopher answered, making reference to the title the media had given Jake years before. “Besides, when my sisters hear you got married, they are going to want all the details.”

Jake opened his mouth to speak, but Christopher beat him to it. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them anything until it goes public. If I told them, it’d be all over the Internet in an hour.”

Jake nodded his appreciation. “I don’t think you’ve met Charlie’s mom, Maureen. C’mon I’ll introduce you.”

Christopher glanced over at the older woman who was now in a conversation with Charlie and Sara. In silence, he and Jake crossed the rooftop to where the three women stood.

“Maureen, I’d like you to meet Christopher Hall,” Jake said, interrupting the trios conversation.

A wide, friendly smile crossed Maureen’s face. “You must be Jake’s college roommate. Charlie’s told me a little about you. It’s nice to meet you.” Maureen extended her hand.

“Nice to meet you too. Jake tells me you make the best apple pie he’s ever tasted.” Christopher shook the older woman’s hand.

Christopher and the others remained outside enjoying the cool breeze coming off the Pacific. After lunch though, Christopher retreated to his own bedroom, one of five located down the hall from the penthouse apartment’s kitchen. During lunch he’d received several text messages from work, and he wanted to handle them before the ceremony began.

***

Standing between Christopher and Maureen, Sara watched, as Judge Fallon began the wedding ceremony on the deserted beach just feet away from the rolling waves. No doubt about it, the beach setting of the ceremony fit her brother and Charlie to a T. They both adored the ocean and spent as much time as possible out on Jake’s sailboat. The entire feel of the ceremony, in fact, matched the couple. It was low-key and informal. There was no over-the-top wedding gown or a tux with tails. And while the ceremony fit the couple beautifully, it was far from what she dreamed of having some day—assuming that day ever came. With each failed relationship, Sara began to doubt more and more she’d ever find the right man. So far anyway, she’d managed to find herself attracted to men who only saw her last name—a name with the right business and political connections.

Without intending to, Sara sighed, drawing Christopher’s attention. For a moment, his dark chocolate brown eyes studied her face, and her heartbeat sped up. After a second or two, he looked away, and Sara’s heartbeat returned to normal.

Did her brothers know how lucky they both were? They’d both found their perfect matches and neither woman expected anything other than their love in return. Although she’d never told Callie or Charlie, she admired them for that. They were both able to see her brother, Jake, and half brother, Dylan, for the men they were on the inside. Not many people seemed able to do that. At least not many of the ones she’d met. Instead, they only saw the dollar signs attached to their names.

In front of her, Jake pulled Charlie into his arms and kissed her, signaling the end of the short civil ceremony. Next to her, Charlie’s mom quietly wept. Without a second thought, Sara wrapped an arm around the older woman’s shoulder.

“Are you okay?” she asked, wishing she had a few tissues on hand.

Maureen nodded and wiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks. “I just can’t believe my baby girl is married. I’ll be fine. Go on and join the others.” Maureen patted her on the arm and motioned to the others with her head.

Sara hesitated for a second but then moved forward to join the others as they congratulated the happy couple. She listened as both Callie and Dylan welcomed Charlie to the family, and then she turned to Jake. As children, with only a two-year age difference between them, they’d always been close. They had grown apart a bit through the years, especially when they’d both been sent off to different boarding schools. Yet she still considered Jake one of her closest friends, the one person she could trust no matter what. So before anyone else could approach him, she moved in and hugged him.

“Congratulations,” she said before dropping a kiss on his cheek. “But I still think you’re nuts for not inviting Mom and Dad.” She couldn’t stop herself from adding the last part because she really thought they should have been there.

“I’ll deal with them later. Besides, now they can make an even bigger deal of your wedding when the time comes.”

Sara merely shook her head in response. Her brother never cared what their parents thought. Sometimes she envied him for that. “That’s more like if rather than when, Jake.” She tried to hide the sarcasm from her voice.

“You’re wrong. You’ll see. I promise,” he said in his annoying big-brother-knows-all tone.

“I’m not going to argue with you on your wedding day.” She hugged Jake and moved away before he could offer anymore brotherly wisdom, something he loved to do no matter the topic. He insisted it was his job as her older brother, but she suspected it had more to do with wanting to annoy her.

Whatever the reason, she really didn’t want to discuss that particular topic any further. It’d only put her in a bad mood, and she didn’t want to ruin the day for her brother and Charlie. Instead, she moved toward the bride to congratulate her.

Although Jake and Charlie had been together for almost a year now, Sara didn’t know her well. Charlie and Jake lived in Virginia, while she lived in Washington, which should’ve made visiting easy. But, Charlie was a doctor, and her schedule didn’t fit well with Sara’s hectic schedule on the Hill.

“Congratulations, Charlie. You look gorgeous.” Sara stepped in front of Charlie and hugged her. Charlie wore a simple but elegant white gown that ended just above the knee. Her red hair was pulled up, and a simple silver comb held it in place. A modest white gold necklace with an emerald pendant hung around her neck and matching emerald earrings hung from her ears.

Charlie’s face beamed with happiness as Sara pulled back. “Thank you. I’m glad you came. Jake was worried you wouldn’t make it on such short notice.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Even if she’d been on the other side of the planet, she would’ve found a way to get to Hawaii when Jake asked her. “Are you two going on a honeymoon?”

“We’re spending a few days here, but then I need to get back. In the fall, we’re going to Scotland and England and spending three weeks there.”

Both were beautiful countries she’d visited many times, but neither were places she’d pick for a honeymoon. “You’re going to keep working at the hospital?” Charlie had retired from the Navy and taken a position at a hospital in Virginia the previous fall.

“I love it there, so I see no reason to leave.”

Sara mentally nodded in approval. She already knew Charlie loved her brother and not his money or powerful family name, still Charlie’s decision to stay at the hospital further reassured her.

If only she could find a man who’d look past all that too. It seemed as if every man she dated saw her as a walking dollar sign rather than a flesh-and-blood woman. Perhaps men weren’t capable of seeing beyond money and power. After all, the only two people she knew who truly didn’t seem to care about those things were Charlie and Callie. Neither had been drawn to their spouses because of material goods. Maybe only women could look beyond what someone had and see the real person, though both of her brothers had dated their share of gold diggers before meeting their spouses.

“So what made you pick Scotland and England for a honeymoon?” Sara asked, although her thoughts remained on the differences between men and women.

“We wanted something a little different. I’ve never been to either but have always wanted to visit.”

The skin on the back of Sara’s neck tingled as Charlie explained the places they planned to visit while in Europe. At first she dismissed the sensation as her imagination. When it didn’t go away, she shot a quick glance over Charlie’s shoulder, but it revealed nothing out of the ordinary. A large portion of the beach had been closed off to other hotel guests, and any people on the beach were much further down. So far down in fact, she doubted they would be able to tell who had just gotten married.

Still the feeling remained.

Sara nodded in response to Charlie’s words as she looked over toward Jake who stood with both Dylan and Christopher. Her eyes immediately locked with Christopher’s. For a second or two. their eyes stayed connected, his expression unreadable.

What did Christopher see when he looked at her? Did he see the “daddy’s little princess” that many of Jake’s other friends imagined her to be? Did he see her as some political pawn like her last boyfriend?

It doesn’t really matter. Breaking contact, she focused her attention back to Charlie and their conversation.

Since she first met Charlie at Dylan and Callie’s wedding the year before, she’d tried not to make the same mistakes with her that she’d made with Callie when they’d first met.

“Your brother couldn’t come too?” Sara asked. She knew Charlie had an older brother, although she’d never met him.

“We invited Sean, but the Victorian Rose expected guests this weekend. He didn’t want to cancel those reservations. Jake offered to compensate him for the loss, but Sean insisted canceling at the last minute would be bad for business.”

Sara nodded, a negative review on a website somewhere could ruin a family-owned bed and breakfast.

“Ma will tell him all about the wedding when she gets home, and we’re visiting them in two weeks anyway.”

***

Christopher walked through the glass doors separating the living room area of the penthouse apartment from the rooftop pool. Callie must have planned this.

Charlie was a terrific woman and a perfect match for Jake, yet she didn’t strike him as the romantic type. And while Jake had always been smooth with the ladies, this didn’t look like something he’d come up with either. Vases filled with long-stemmed red and white roses sat on every table. Candles placed along the edge of the rooftop near the railing flickered, as did the candles floating in the pool. The padded lounges had been pushed together and covered so they resembled wide couches, and throw pillows had been added to increase the effect. Soft music played in the background, loud enough for dancing but not so loud you couldn’t have a conversation. A slight breeze from the ocean kept the rooftop a comfortable temperature as the wedding guests mingled over drinks and food.

Before joining the others, he stopped at the bar, which had been set up in the far corner, and ordered a vodka martini then filled a plate from the buffet. Satisfied with his food selections, he joined Jake and his family.

“Congratulations again,” Christopher said, sitting in an empty seat facing the glass door. “Who did all this? I know it wasn’t Jake.” With his hand, he gestured around the rooftop.

Jake nodded in Callie’s direction. “Callie planned the reception, and Dylan arranged everything else for us.”

Christopher looked over at Callie who sat diagonally across the table between Dylan and Maureen. “Nicely done.”

He glanced around the rooftop in search of Sara. He hadn’t seen her since the photographer finished the pictures on the beach. While he knew his friendship with Jake made Sara off limits, it didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy looking at her whenever he got the chance. “Aren’t we one short?”

Jake paused with his wine glass almost to his mouth. “Sara needed to return some phone calls.”

The sound of the glass door sliding on its runner caught Christopher’s attention, and he immediately looked up. He watched Sara step outside and close the door behind her. She still wore the turquoise sundress from the wedding, but now her blonde hair hung in thick waves skimming her shoulders.

Raising his fork to his mouth, he watched as she crossed to the bar and ordered herself a drink. She moved with such grace and elegance—even if he hadn’t known who she was, he would’ve known she wasn’t just some ordinary woman from down the street. Everything about her spoke of wealth and privilege.

Since no one else seemed to notice, he kept his gaze locked on her as she stopped for food before joining everyone.

“Sorry. I didn’t expect those calls to take so long.” Sara pulled out a chair across from him and sat.

“Yeah, right. We know you just like to make an entrance,” Jake joked, pushing his empty plate away from him. Immediately, a waitress appeared to clear the dish away.

Sara made a childish face and stuck her tongue out at her brother, and Christopher nearly choked on the carrot he’d swallowed. While he could easily picture one of his sisters doing the exact same thing to him, the action didn’t fit with the image he had of the always proper and elegant Sara Sherbrooke. If anyone else found her behavior odd, however, no one commented. Jake simply laughed and pushed his chair back.

“How about a dance, Mrs. Sherbrooke?” he asked, holding out a hand to Charlie. Without a word, Charlie accepted, and the couple moved toward the other side of the pool.

The sound of a chair scratching on the ground drew Christopher’s attention, and he watched Dylan whisper something in Callie’s ear before they both stood and joined the dancing couple.

At the far end of the table, Maureen pushed her chair back as well. “I think I’ll say goodnight. It’s already tomorrow morning back in North Salem.”

Left alone, Sara and Christopher ordered another round of drinks and finished their dinner in silence while the other two couples danced to the slow love songs pouring from the speakers.

With dinner finished though, Christopher leaned back in his chair and watched Sara from across the table. Since joining the party, she hadn’t said much beyond the basic pleasantries.

“Do you want to dance?” he asked, before taking the last sip of his second martini.

She was watching the two couples moving to the music. As soon as he spoke, Sara’s head whipped around to face him, but she remained silent.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine too.” It didn’t matter much to him either way. When it came to dancing, he usually avoided it. Yet she’d been watching the other couples with such longing, he guessed she enjoyed it.

Sara pushed her chair back. “Sure.”

Christopher followed her toward the dance floor. When she stopped and faced him, he encircled her waist with his arms and pulled her closer while at the same time making sure he kept an appropriate distance between them.

After Sara slid her arms around his neck, they began to move to the classic 80’s love ballad pouring from the speakers. Slowly, one song melded into another, and soon he couldn’t remember how long they’d danced or when he’d pulled her so close. No space remained between them now as they moved as one and her head rested against his chest. Not that he was complaining. He liked the way her body felt pressed up against his. He didn’t even mind that every now and then a strand of her silky hair blew across his face.

Throughout their dancing, his eyes strayed back to the woman in his arms. He enjoyed watching the candlelight flicker across her skin, and the way she felt in his arms.

A few feet away, Charlie and Jake still danced, but when the current song ended, he saw Charlie whisper in Jake’s ear.

When she pulled away, Jake announced, “I’m told it’s time to call it a night. We’ll see you all tomorrow.” The smile on Jake’s face told everyone he was more than happy to do as told and head inside.

“I doubt it,” Dylan said from near the pool where he and Callie danced.

Jake ignored the comment and kept on walking.

Christopher agreed with Dylan. He’d be surprised if he saw Jake or Charlie again before he returned home.

“I think it’s time we went inside too. We’ll see you two sometime tomorrow.” Dylan led Callie toward the glass doors.

Christopher paused for a moment, even though a new song started. “Looks like we’ve been deserted,” he said, letting his eyes rest on Sara’s face.

Sara met his gaze and then nodded. “Seems that way. But I’m not surprised.”

Without any warning, Sara moved out of his arms. “I think I need another drink.”

He couldn’t be certain, but he thought he detected the slightest hint of embarrassment in her voice. “Sounds like a good idea. What can I make for you?”

“Another Cosmo would be great,” she answered. “Thanks.”

Nodding he headed toward the vacant bar. He’d never received any formal training, but he knew how to mix the staple drinks. Once both drinks were prepared, he carried them to Sara, standing near the pool.

For a while, they both stood in silence, gazing out at the beach below. Although long past sunset, the lights from the other hotels and the streets below provided enough illumination to see the sandy beach and rolling waves.

“Are you working for Sherbrooke Enterprises now?” He remembered Jake telling him Sara graduated from Harvard Law School. A position in the company’s legal department seemed the next logical step for her, assuming she worked at all. She didn’t have any reason to.

“No. I’m Senator David Healy’s chief of staff. I’ve been with him since his campaign.”

She took a large swallow of her drink, and he watched, mesmerized for some reason by the way she held her glass to her lips. The urge to pull the glass away and replace it with his mouth started to overtake him. It wasn’t the first time since meeting her years before he’d been physically attracted to her, any man with a pulse would be. Tonight the pull was stronger. Different somehow. In a way he couldn’t explain and should definitely ignore.

Jake’s sister.

“You look surprised.”

Christopher shrugged. “I don’t associate beautiful woman with politics.” He didn’t stop to filter the thoughts flowing through his head and the words spilled out.

Countless men had called her beautiful, yet coming from him it sounded different, more sincere perhaps. Running her tongue over her lips to moisten them, she met his gaze. Then they both took a step forward at the same instant. A tiny part of her brain went on autopilot when she felt her body come into contact with his. Slowly, he lowered his head toward hers, and she found herself craving the taste of his lips more than she craved her next breath.

As his lips settled on hers, he placed his hands on her shoulders and warmth swept though her body. Their kiss remained gentle and sweet, and Sara allowed herself to learn the taste and texture of his lips, something she’d wanted to do since he climbed into the limo that afternoon.

The desire to increase the intensity of the kiss soon exploded. Wrapping her arms around Christopher’s waist, Sara anchored him against her as their kiss deepened. Just when the need for air became so great she feared her lungs would explode, Christopher pulled his mouth away from hers. Without missing a beat, he kissed the corner of her mouth first then moved across her jaw and down her neck, leaving her skin on fire.

In response, Sara tilted her neck to the side to give him better access. Christopher continued his trail of kisses as his hands slid up and down the skin of her uncovered back, causing her to tingle at his touch.

“Maybe we should go inside,” he whispered against her ear.

She nodded in agreement without pausing to consider the ramifications. Moving on autopilot, she let him lead her back inside to his room as his hands and lips stayed in contact with her body.

Christopher closed the bedroom door with his foot, and she heard him lock it. One large hand gripped her hip, making it difficult to move, and he attempted to unbutton his shirt with the other. When the buttons wouldn’t cooperate fast enough, he yanked at the front, tearing the buttons off and sending them in every direction. Once his shirt no longer remained a barrier between them, he reached for her dress’s zipper. In the back of her mind, she expected him stop at any second—for him to come to his senses, pull away, and toss her from the room. Instead, he slid the zipper down her back and then pushed the thin straps from her shoulders. The dress fell in a puddle around her feet.

Kicking the dress aside, she reached for his belt buckle. While her hands worked to undo it, his hands explored the contours of her back, only stopping once to unclasp her strapless bra.

With their clothing disposed of, they moved as one, stopping when the backs of her legs hit the bed. Then, in one final movement, they tumbled onto the bed together.

Sara awoke instantly aware of two things; she had no clothes on and there was an arm draped across her stomach that did not belong to her. As the cobwebs of sleep cleared from her mind, bits and pieces from the night before came trickling back into her consciousness.

After the ceremony, everyone had gathered for dinner and dancing. At some point, everyone but she and Christopher disappeared from the romantic poolside setting and she had yet another cosmo, her fourth of the night. Normally she stopped after two. She could only remember one occasion when she’d consumed three, and she didn’t know why she had so many the night before.

After the drink, they’d kissed. At first the kiss had been gentle, but it’d changed as desire and longing surged through her veins. It’d been more than two years since a man kissed her. Without any warning, her body instantly responded. Soon she and Christopher were holding onto each other for dear life as they made their way to his room.

Not once had she paused to think about what she was doing. She’d let him take her dress off without any protest. Heat burned Sara’s face as she remembered helping him remove an article or two of his clothing.

Groaning at the memory, she squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe if she didn’t open them all, these memories would turn out to be just part of a dream. A very nice dream, but one she didn’t want to be real. One that for both their sakes couldn’t be real. Maybe the weight on her stomach was a figment of her imagination.

Sara shifted her leg a little, and the crisp hairs brushing against her skin dashed away any hope that she was still dreaming. Taking in a deep breath, Sara slowly exhaled then opened her eyes.

Something between a groan and a laugh bubbled up and out of her when her eyes settled on Christopher’s face. His eyes were still closed and his breathing remained even, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

Hell, what was I thinking? She’d never in her life had a one-night stand. Not to mention, this was her brother’s best friend. How was she ever going to face Christopher after this? What about her brother? She’d die if Jake ever found out she’d slept with Christopher.

Could she sneak out before he woke up? While it might not solve the overall problem at hand, at least she wouldn’t have to face him naked the minute he woke up.

In an effort not to disturb him, Sara slid toward the edge of the bed, all the while keeping her eyes locked on his face.

Almost there. Another moment or two and she’d be home free.

Christopher’s arm slipped off her stomach and hit the mattress. With one leg over the side of the bed, she sat up, prepared to grab her dress and yank it on.

“Sara?” Christopher sounded as confused as she’d been a moment ago.

Darn it. With her dress out of reach, Sara yanked the sheet around her. Considering the circumstances, a sheet was better than nothing.

An eternity of heavy silence hung in the air between them. “I… we… uh… should talk,” Christopher said.

The mattress shifted, and she knew without looking he’d pulled himself into a sitting position.

“I’m… I didn’t intend for this to happen,” he continued, his tone apologetic.

He took hold of her hand, and the heat already burning her face flooded her body. Unable to look at him, she nodded, not sure whether to tell him she understood or tell him it was okay. At the moment, a whole plethora of perplexing emotions churned inside her, and she didn’t want to voice any of them.

“Sara?”

Since she couldn’t undo the events from the night before, she had to face them.

“We’re both adults. Last night happened. No big deal.” Sara struggled to keep her voice sounding nonchalant. “Trust me, things like this happen all the time. I don’t even know how many times it happened during the eighteen months I worked on the senator’s campaign,” she said matter-of-factly.

Just not to me.

“People get lonely, and when they do, they look for companionship.” Did her argument sound better to him than it did to her? She hoped so.

“Still it shouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry.”

She saw worry and guilt in his eyes when she looked over at him. Placing a hand on his bare shoulder, she leaned a little closer. “You have nothing to apologize for, okay? Let’s pretend it never happened.”

Could she do that? Saying the words was one thing, carrying them out another.

“I should go before anyone gets up and sees me leaving.” Sara dropped her hand. The way she saw it, if she left now, she had more than a fifty-fifty chance of getting back to her room unseen by either of her brothers. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather keep this a secret between us.”

Sara knew she didn’t imagine the look of relief that washed across his face.

“You read my mind. Jake would kill me if he found out,” Christopher answered, his face devoid of any humor. In one fluid movement, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Go ahead and get dressed. I promise not to look.”

She glanced once at his bare back. The night before, she hadn’t seen any of it, but her hands had roamed across every inch. In the morning light, she could see the muscles her hands had traced the night before, and immediately her hands tingled, wanting to do so again. Bad idea. Very bad idea.

Before she gave in to her hands’ desire, she jumped off the bed and snatched up her dress. In record time, she pulled it over her head and zipped it up. While her first instinct was to fly out the bedroom door, she paused long enough to open it and peek into the hall. From here anyway, the coast appeared clear.

Please let me make it to my room. “I’ll see you later,” she said without looking back at Christopher. Sara didn’t stick around for his reply either. Slipping into the hall, she closed the door gently behind her.

So far so good. Sara walked down the hall toward the empty living room. The curtains covering the windows and French doors remained closed, hinting at the fact no one else was up yet. As she crossed the living room toward the hall leading to her room, she held her breath. Just a few more steps and their secret would be safe. No one would ever know.

Feeling a bit like a criminal sneaking into somewhere she didn’t belong, Sara walked into her room and closed the door. Exhaling the breath she’d been holding, she leaned back against the bedroom door. Made it. Our secret’s safe.

Two hours later, Sara stood at her bathroom sink. Someone was up, she’d heard voices earlier, but so far she’d remained locked in her room. How could she ever face Christopher again? Or Jake? Yeah, sure Jake knew she wasn’t a virgin, but that didn’t mean he wanted her sleeping with his best friend either.

And she didn’t want to consider how Christopher must see her now. What kind of woman had a one-night stand with her brother’s best friend? Certainly, not someone like her. Well, at least not before last night. Somehow though, she hadn’t been able to stop herself. For more than two years, she’d stayed clear of men, content with building a name for herself in politics. Then in a matter of hours, she’d gone from simply dancing to waking up next to a complete stranger, naked.

“Okay, maybe not a complete stranger,” she said to the mirror. Still, they didn’t know each other well. Prior to this weekend, she couldn’t even remember the last time they’d seen each other.

I cannot stay in here all day. Even if she didn’t come out for any other reason, at some point she needed to eat. At the thought of food, her stomach rumbled. Come on. You’re a Sherbrooke. Sherbrookes don’t hide. Get your butt out there.

After one last glance in the mirror, Sara marched out into the living room only to find it empty. The sound of movement in the kitchen though told her someone else was up.

The barest hint of cinnamon mixed with the aroma of coffee tickled her nose when she walked into the fully functional kitchen where Maureen O’Brien sat with a steaming coffee mug in front of her.

“You must have stayed up late last night,” Maureen said after greeting her. “I just finished breakfast, but I can make you something. Dylan and Christopher ate all the French toast I made, but I can make more if you want.”

Before she could stop herself, Sara looked around again for either of the two men. “Where is everyone?” she asked, even though she only cared about the current location of one particular individual.

“Dylan and Callie went to the beach. Christopher left for the airport about an hour ago. Jake and Charlie are still not up.”

Jake and Charlie were still in bed, no big surprise there. They’d gotten married yesterday. As for Dylan and Callie, it made sense they’d gone to the beach. Both enjoyed it, but didn’t get there often, living in the city. Christopher’s departure though seemed odd. It didn’t seem like him to leave so abruptly. Then again, what did she know? With the exception of the previous night’s activities, she’d never spent more than an hour with him at a time.

“Don’t worry about it, Maureen. I’ll call for something.” While the penthouse apartment in the hotel had a complete kitchen, it also had full access to the hotel’s amenities, which included two five-star restaurants.

“Sara, that’s silly. Let me make you something,” Maureen said, waving her hand for added emphasis. “It won’t take me long.”

The French toast and coffee from earlier did smell delicious, and Jake had told her what an excellent cook Maureen was. “If you really don’t mind, some French toast would be great.”

As Maureen cooked, she chatted away about the wedding the day before and Hawaii in general. Sara was grateful Jake’s mother-in-law didn’t mind that she did little more than nod in agreement. At the moment, she couldn’t handle an in-depth conversation with anyone. All her thoughts remained centered on the previous night’s events. The fact that she’d slept with Christopher seemed like a dream or a scene out of a movie. She’d avoided men for two years, yet after a few drinks and a single kiss, she’d lost all of her common sense and her clothes. How was she going to face her brother? No matter what, she couldn’t let Jake find out. Who knew how it might affect his friendship with Christopher?

“I wish they’d invited your parents,” Maureen said. She placed a plate piled high with slices of French toast in front of her. “They should’ve been here.” Maureen sat down across from her with a fresh mug of coffee. “Your mom will be heartbroken. I know I would be in her shoes.”

Sara nodded in agreement and reached for the coconut syrup, a sweet treat she indulged in whenever she visited the area. Heartbroken wasn’t the only adjective that came to mind when she considered Mom’s reaction to the news. Furious also ranked up there too. Dad wouldn’t be pleased either, but he would understand far better than their mother.

“I’m glad I’m not the one who has to tell them,” Sara said.

“Tell who what?” Jake asked, walking toward the table. “Is that French toast I smell?”

The hunger she’d felt a few seconds earlier disappeared at the sound of Jake’s voice.

“Tell Mom and Dad you and Charlie got married yesterday.” She kept her eyes on her breakfast when she answered. If she looked at her brother now, she feared he’d know something wasn’t right. While he’d never guess the true cause of her unease, he’d hound her until he got the information from her.

“They’ll understand eventually.” He took a seat across from her. “Where is everyone else?”

“Callie and Dylan headed to the beach, and your friend Christopher left for the airport after breakfast,” Maureen answered, placing another plate piled high with slices of French toast on the table.

“Left? Wonder why? I figured he’d stick around for the weekend.” Jake dug into his breakfast with gusto.

Sara kept her eyes down. “Probably business. You didn’t exactly give anyone time to plan for being away from work.”

“Sometimes it’s fun to be spontaneous, Sara. Admit it, even you had fun yesterday.”

A flicker of apprehension coursed through her as the memories from the night before blossomed in her mind. He doesn’t know what happened. “I guess. Maybe a little.”

She popped a piece of French toast in her mouth and hoped Jake changed the subject. She didn’t want to discuss the events of last night with anyone, ever.

“Do you plan on staying a few days or are you leaving today too?” Jake asked between forkfuls of his breakfast.

“Not sure.” She hadn’t considered exactly how long she’d stayed. “But I might fly back to D.C. tonight.” The sooner she got home and away from Jake the better.

Sara finished a portion of her breakfast and then stood. “Maureen, that was delicious, but I cannot eat another bite.” She picked up her plate, prepared to carry it into the kitchen.

“I’ll finish it up for you.”

Sara shook her head. She didn’t know where Jake put it all. “It’s all yours.” She passed the plate to him. “I’m going to read my e-mails.”

When she re-entered her room, the beeping cell phone on the desk greeted her. Picking it up, she saw one text message from a number she didn’t recognize.

Thought you’d be more comfortable if I wasn’t around when you got up, the message read.

An emotion she couldn’t identified washed over her, and she hit delete. No one could ever see that message.